Heavy rain couldn’t prevent thousands from assembling at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington as President Donald Trump delivered his speech at the “Salute to America” Fourth of July festivities.

Trump’s speech celebrated America’s heritage, praised members of the armed forces who lost their lives to defend the nation, and mapped an optimistic path for the years ahead.

“Today, we come together as one nation with this very special salute to America,” the president said as the crowd cheered and clapped.

“We celebrate our history, our people, and the heroes who proudly defend our flag—the brave men and women of the United States military,” he said.

US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump arrive to the “Salute to America” Fourth of July event at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington on July 4, 2019. (MANDEL NGAN/AFP)

The president spoke on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, facing a vast crowd flanking the reflecting pool. He invoked the words of the Declaration of Independence, the nation’s founders, and historical figures who shaped the nation.

“As we gather this evening in the joy of freedom, we remember that we all share a truly extraordinary heritage. Together, we are part of one of the greatest stories ever told—the story of America.”

US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump arrive at the “Salute to America” Fourth of July event at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington on July 4, 2019. (MANDEL NGAN / AFP)

Trump transformed the routine Independence Day celebrations in the capital into an unprecedented show, with a parade, military band performances, aircraft flyovers, and a fireworks display billed to be the largest in Washington history.

The “Salute to America” Independence Day festivities featured military demonstrations, multiple aircraft flyovers, and music, paying tribute to the country’s five service branches—the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, and Navy.

Trump offered an optimistic view of the future, promising that the U.S. flag would eventually be planted on Mars.

US President Donald Trump speaks alongside acting Defense Secretary Mark Esper (L) and the Chairman of The Joint Chiefs of Staff Joseph Dunford during the “Salute to America” Fourth of July event at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington on July 4, 2019. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP)

“As long as we stay true to our cause—as long as we remember our great history—and as long as we never stop fighting for a better future—then there will be nothing that America cannot do,” he said.

The president spoke for approximately an hour from behind bulletproof glass. The crowd broke into chants of “USA, USA” on several occasions.

US President Donald Trump speaks during the “Salute to America” Fourth of July event at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington on July 4, 2019. (Photo by Brendan Smialowski / AFP)US President Donald Trump and the First Lady arrive at the Salute to America celebration in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington on July 4, 2019. (MANDEL NGAN/AFP)

The president’s speech was almost entirely rooted in remembering the nation’s history—especially the heroic achievements of American military heroes. Trump paused on two occasions to introduce military band performances and watch flyovers by military aircraft. “What a great country,” he said, as a B-2 stealth bomber and a pair of F-22 raptors roared above the crowd.

People watch a marching band perform on the National Mall ahead of the “Salute to America” Fourth of July event with US President Donald Trump at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington on July 4, 2019. (Brendan Smialowski / AFP)A woman holds a “Trump Country” sign during the opening festivities of President Donald Trump’s “Salute to America” ceremony in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington on July 4, 2019. (Sarah Silbiger/Getty Images)People gather on the National Mall ahead of the “Salute to America” Fourth of July event with US President Donald Trump at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington on July 4, 2019. (ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP)

The celebration concluded with a 35-minute firework display, the biggest ever in the capital’s history.

The Fourth of July celebrates the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776.

A day before the event, Trump had declared emphatically: “It will be the show of a lifetime!”

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Shariah The Threat to America is the result of months of analysis, discussion and drafting by a group of top security policy experts concerned with the preeminent totalitarian threat of our time: the legal-political-military doctrine known within Islam as “shariah.”

It is designed to provide a comprehensive and articulate second opinion on the official characterizations and assessments of this threat as put forth by the United States government.